This is a record of my journey as a Muslim. I used to be Catholic and belonged to a missionary organisation. After my conversion, I sat on the board of a Muslim converts' organisation and specialised in da'wah programmes, convert management, interfaith issues and apostasy cases. I am an initiate of a Sufi order. As such, the articles and writings tend to cover these areas.
All the Arabic and graphics could not have been done without the help of my wife, Zafirah.

Saturday, 7 January 2017

Salutations upon the Prophet (s.a.w.) is a Necessity for the Believer

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Both Anas (r.a.) and ‘Ali (k.w.) said that every supplication is veiled, mahjub, until the one making it sends swalawat upon the Prophet (s.a.w.). This was recorded with tsiqah narrators from Imam al-Mundziri’s (r.a.) Targhib; and Imam al-Haytsami’s (r.a.) Majma’; by Imam
ath-Thabarani (r.a.), in his Mu’jam al-Awsath; Imam al-Bayhaqi (r.a.), in his Shu’ab al-Iman; Imam ad-Daylami (r.a.), in his Musnad
al-Firdaws; Shaykh Abu ash-Shaykh (r.a.);
and others.

The Prophet
(s.a.w.) also said, “The person most
deserving of me on the Day of Rising is the one who sends the most swalawat upon me.” This was recorded by Imam al-Bukhari (r.a.), in his Tarikh al-Kabir; Imam at-Tirmidzi (r.a.), in his Kitab
asw-Swalah; Imam al-Bazzar (r.a.),
in his Musnad; Imam Abu Ya’la (r.a.); Imam al-Bayhaqi (r.a.), his Shu’ab al-Iman; Imam ath-Thabarani (r.a.), in his Mu’jam al-Kabir;
and Imam ibn Hibban (r.a.). Imam ibn ‘Adiyy (r.a.) recorded it, in his Kamil; from ibn Mas’ud (r.a.) as a hasan; while Imam as-Suyuthi (q.s.)
stated it is swahih, in his Jami’ asw-Swaghir. This is
confirmed in Fath al-Bari.

The Prophet
(s.a.w.) also said, “None of you will
believe until I am more beloved to him than his parents, children, and all of
mankind,” and “Whoever loves something, mentions it frequently.” The former hadits was recorded by Imam al-Bukhari (r.a.); Imam Muslim (r.a.);
Imam Ahmad (r.a.); Imam an-Nasa’i (r.a.); Imam ibn Majah (r.a.); Imam ad-Darimi (r.a.); Imam al-Bayhaqi (r.a.), in his Shu’ab al-Iman; Imam ath-Thabarani (r.a.), in his Mu’jam
al-Awsath; Imam ‘Abdullah ibn Humayd (r.a.);
and others. The latter hadits was recorded by Imam ibn
ad-Daylami (r.a.), in his Musnad
al-Firdaws. However, it is
classified as dha’if by Imam
as-Suyuthi (q.s.), in his Jami’ asw-Swaghir. It was also recorded by Imam ibn Abi Dunya (r.a.), and Imam Ahmad (r.a.), in their Kitab az-Zuhd; Imam ibn Shahin (r.a.),
in his Targhib; Imam Abu Nu’aym (r.a.); and Imam al-Bayhaqi (r.a.), in his Shu’ab al-Iman,
with slight differences in wording.

This means
that the true believers love the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) more than any other human, and that because of this love,
they mention and invoke him frequently, each time sending swalawat upon him. The
Prophet (s.a.w.) also said, “No
Muslim sends swalawat upon me without
the angels sending swalawat upon him
in return, as long as he sends swalawat
upon me. So, let him decrease or
increase as he wishes.” Those who
complain of people reciting “too much” swalawat
upon the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.)
should reflect upon these ahadits. This hadits
was recorded by Imam Ahmad (r.a.);
Imam ibn Majah (r.a.); Imam Diya’
al-Maqdisi (r.a.); Imam ibn Abi
Shaybah (r.a.); Imam ‘Abd ar-Razzaq (r.a.); Imam al-Baghawi (r.a.); Imam al-Bayhaqi (r.a.), in his Shu’ab; Imam Abu Nu’aym (r.a.);
Imam ibn al-Mubarak (r.a.), in his Kitab az-Zuhd; Qadhi Isma’il (r.a.), in his Fadhl asw-Swalah; Imam ‘Abdullah ibn Humayd (r.a.); and Imam ibn Ja’d (r.a.)
in their respective Musnad, and it is
swahih, according to Imam as-Suyuthi (q.s.), in his Jami’
as-Swaghir, and hasan according
to Imam al-Mundziri (r.a.), in his Targhib.